Vacuum-pump system



Nov. 19'25.

E. c. RICHARD VACUUM PUMP SYSTEM Filed oct. 1"?. 1919 2 Sheets-sheet `l* Nlw; 3, 1925. I 1 ,5mr9n l ELC. RICHARD VACUUM PUMP SYS TEM Filed oct: 17. 1919 zsheetkshew 2 to an abnormal level. This passage, being normally open, permits full application of the vacuum chamber suction to the. mam tank as distinguished from the use of a passage normally closed by ordinary loaded or spring pressed check valve such as 1sv used in connection with pressure pumps of all types.

The invention also provides a vacuum tank construction of less height than the usual devices for this purpose, thereby reducing the lift from the main tank; the present tank, by virtue of its low height and small liquid content, allows better protection from the heat of the exhaust and more rapid circulation of fuel through the tank and is therefore less subject to the difficulties caused by the boiling ot' the gasoline. 'The use of the smaller vacuum chamber also results in increased etiiciency of the vacuum apparatus as a whole.

Other objects and features will be pointed out later.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the application of the invention to a motor vehicle. Fig. 2 is a part-elevation part-section on a larger scale, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. '3 is a section showing a modification. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the modification shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification in the vent pipe which is itself adapted to prevent overflow.

The apparatus consists briefly in a vacuum tank 1 connected to the main or low-level reservoir 2, disposed in this instance at the rear of the car, and also connected to suc `tion means-as shown, to the intake manifold 3 through the'pipe 4 which communicates with said intake above the throttle to be delivered later therefrom by gravity.

, wise as a part of the carburetor, but the construction shown is `preferred on account of considerations of manufacture.

The vacuum tank includes a receiving 'or vacuum chamber 10 formed preferably `of a pressed or drawn sheetvmetal cup 11 hav'- ing a cover 12; below the chamber'lO and communicating therewith through the medium of the outwardly opening valve 13 is a passage 14 that leads to the float chamber 15 of the carburetor (vented as usual at 15'), communication with the latter being under control of the float 16 and associated valve 17 so that fuel from the passage 14 can only flow. into the chamber 15 sufliciently to replace that delivered to the engine as will be readily understood. The passage 14 is preferably formed by means of a funnel shaped stamping 16 and a fitting (heretofore designated 6), the lower end of the stamping `screw 20. y tion shown, 1s a stampingof disc-form, and

being received in the fittingand the latter.

being secured to the `valve seat 19 by a Acap The valve 13, in the construcis preferably positioned well down into the assage 14, so that it is ordinarily covered Ey'fuel and therefore less subject' to leakage than would be the case were it open to the air. A. s ring 21, preferabl very flexible and of -t e helical type, an having its' upper `end carried by the cross-wire or bar 22 soldered across the` tubular valve seat 23,

' is provided for the purposel of normally retaining the .valve in contact with the seat when the tank is empty, but other-valves, such as those in ordinary use, might be employed. The pipe 4 communicates with the vacuum chamber through a passage 30 formed in a shouldered member 31 which preferably passes through the cover 12 for vclamping tlereto by threaded connection with the element 32 interior'ly `thereof; and interposed between the manifold and the passage 30 is a suction transformer or intensifier consisting preferably-in a Venturi passage 33 opening on low suctions to the outer air and preferably entirely `closed to the outer air on high suctions, so that under conditions of low engine suction the actual suction applied to the passage 30 is mate.-

rially increased whereas high engine suctions, as in idling, are applied substantially directly to said passage. As a highly desii-able construction for this purpose a valve 34, the stem of which is guided in a cap 35 threaded on to the Ventui'iqforming member, is provided, saidvalge beng .held away from the entrance tothe `venturi on low engine suctions by suitable springs 36 (but one ofwhich is shown) 'housed in the Venturi-forming member, and then permitting the admission of air to the Venturi passage through the orts 37 formed in the ca The Venturi-firming member may be ma e integral with the element 31,v as in Fig. 2, or separate therefrom, in which case it may be threaded into the manifold Wall as in-v dicated in Fig. 3.

In either event, itv will be observed that the suction transformer or intensifier includes a three branched passage,. the branches of which communicate at a restriction; that the first branch leads to the intake passage at a point 'of -high suction therein; that the second branch leads to the Vvacuum chamber; that the third branch leads to a source of air supply (as shown, the external atmosphere) at a hi her pres-v sure than 'that at the outlet o strietion is so arranged that air or fluid, enf tering by way of the third branch, intensifies the suction in the second branch rela tively to that in the first.

To maintain the proper pressureA in the thel first branch into\ the intake; and that the ie' momen ere chamber and the pessege'or chamber 14a and to permit proper feedinr. froznjhe passage 141:0 the iot chambero the carburetor,

v with the vacuum chamber 10 throughl the element 32,' and the thirdf-llf-leadin from the other" two through the pipe '42 prei' V erabl toa point in the carburetor float cham r slightly below the normal level of fuel therein. The passage 4l preerulnl o ne into the vacuum chamber in line Wit t e' passage 30, and these passages ere al ternately opened ond'ciosed, depending upon the level of the fuel in the chamber l0 by means of tlie oet e4, which is siioloble on the guide or stem 45 carried by the cover' 12,5the common valve 4&5, enel a .quick :acting connection consisting, v in the constructionshown, inthe two arms 47--48 pivot-elly mounted at 49 ami having their ends joinefl by the tension spring 50.

Opemiom-As stated heretofore the suction applied to the passage varies'in respect to the engine, having a materially higher relative value on low suctions and thus assuring under all conditions sufficient vacuum in the passage 30 to lift the fuel from the tank 2 to. the chamber l0 even on the steepest grades. As the chamber l() is being emptied thi'ough the outwardly openn ing volvol 13, the weight of the float 4e is increasingly applied to the arm 47 und` causes the latter to swing downwardly about the pivot 49 and a einst the tension of the spring 50 which iulally passes over cen..- ter and snaps the valve 46 away from the passage 30 and into the entrance to the passage 4l. This occurring, the suction of the engine, either" normal or boosted as the case nia-y be, is applied 'to th chamber 1 0 to close the valve 13 and drew fuel from the tank 2 through the pipe 2', whereupon the iioat rises and ultimately snaps the valve 46 into tl-ie position shown to thus shut o' the suction frein the chamber l0.v

Simultaneously, communication is opened between said chamber and the passage 4:1-

Whereby equalization of pessure in the chamber 10`and the passage 4 takes place and permits a gravity flou of fuel into the latter to meet the demands of the carburetor. Such additional air as may be needed' plane is inclined downwardly enti i'ortake place should un oil/enflure :from the tonie 2Y occur, elevates the volvo tacross the ein trance to the pipe 56 or ,its equivalent- Wlien the device is ueetl on stetionaicy .inm stoiletions, such es ferm light enel pov/*ei* out-lits, the valve 52 would, of coulisse, lie omitted. Soinevvliet 'the seine generel iesuit may be sccomplislieti by extending the pipe 42 upwardly in o loop es shown in,

int will be evident tout my intensiiier is eppliceble to other tenue wegei'leoi oi whether the taniis ere ci. usual oi el reduced size, enti that the piesent tenia moy loe used Without the booster; also tiiut ve rions changes, other then tliosopointel out, may be merle witiiin the swpe ci tile invention.

l cleim:2W Y

l. A fuel supplying foi inf'cmel combustion enginesineiufiing u @alienation to which fuel is elevotecl by suction, inclini: for applying suction to esiti cheminer, ineens including; a Venturi tuiie fleeing, intiem-elly in opposite directions from an iniyeimefliute throat portion oi2 lesser diameter, ineens for applying engine suction to one esiti ilei ing portions, suini otiiei' enel portion termi noting; in a) volvo seat, e pnsmge connecting seid chamber to seielftliroet portion, anni o valve arranged to 'close egeinst seid sont un" den conditions of leigh engine suction.

2. Fuel feeding; epporetus including u Venturi tubev hsving oppositely ilering aligned end portions., converging et en intei'mediete restricted point, ineens for applying" suction to one ot' seioi end iortions, e. Vpassage through Wliieii intensi/finaal suction from said tube is applied for lifting foei, said passage connecting to the Venturi tube at e point between seid iestrictefl oint therein and the end to which enctionis am'- plied, a valve guide, e valve siitleble thei'ein parallel to the exis oi seid tube, enel e spring tending to hold seid valve in open position,

y 3. Fuel feeding apparatus compnising u. vacuum chemisier, a suction intensier in communication. therewith, saicl intenier including a Venturi tube-'heving opposite aligned outwardly Hering end portions andi an intermediate restricted portion lending to said chamber, means for applying tion to one ot' endende, a cap for the other end, said last namei enti having-s velve sent, and a. valve sliclable in 'seid cap tovve'iil and from scifi seni,t i y 4;. `Fuel feeding appurato-s `ceinigiiising' o mtl vacuum chamber, a suction intensifier in communication therewith, said intensifier includingoa Venturi tube having opposite aligned outwardly flaring Aend portions and an intermediate restrictedI portion leading to said chamber, means for applying suction to one of said flaring ends, a Valve for closing said other flaring end', and a spring housed in said intensifier and tending to EUGENE' C. RICHARD. 

